Memorial also received recognition on the association's Target: Stroke Honor Roll for reducing the time between hospital arrival and treatment with tPA, the only drug approved by the FDA to treat ischemic stroke. People who receive the drug within three hours of their first symptom may recover quicker and are less likely to suffer severe disability.

Memorial Stroke provides nationally recognized treatment, rehabilitation, community education, and a telemedicine program. The stroke team includes neurologists, emergency physicians, and specially trained nurses available 24 hours a day.

"With a stroke, time lost is brain lost. At Memorial Stroke, we are always equipped to provide the necessary brain scans, patient evaluations, and clot-busting medications to stop a stroke as quickly as possible. This award recognizes our commitment to rapid, accurate treatment," said Jay U. Howington, M.D., neurosurgeon, neuro-interventionalist, and medical director of Memorial Stroke.

"If a patient is diagnosed with a stroke, we offer a comprehensive recovery and rehabilitation process that stresses education and lifestyle improvements. Our goal is to help our patients quickly return to a productive and fulfilling life," said Joel Greenberg, M.D., co-medical director of Memorial Stroke.

According to the American Heart Association, every 40 seconds somebody in the U.S. suffers a stroke. It's the fourth leading cause of death in our country, and the leading cause of adult disability.